Unbeaten Israel Adesanya shines under spotlight of first UFC main event

The kickboxing star improved to 14-0 overall and 3-0 in the UFC with a dominant win over Las Vegan Brad Tavares in the main event of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 27 Finale card at Palms on Friday night.

Luis Pena reacts after his first round submission win against Richie Smullen in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Luis Pena, top, before his submission win against Richie Smullen in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

John Gunther reacts to his majority win against Allan Zuniga in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Gunther won by majority decision. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Allan Zuniga, right, connects a punch against John Gunther in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Gunther won by majority decision. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Allan Zuniga, left, defends a kick against John Gunther in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Gunther won by majority decision. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

John Gunther, rear, grabs Allan Zuniga by the neck in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Gunther won by majority decision. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

John Gunther, rear, grabs Allan Zuniga by the neck in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Gunther won by majority decision. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montana De La Rosa before winning by submission against Rachael Ostovich in the third round of the women's flyweight bout in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montana De La Rosa, left, defends against Rachael Ostovich in the women's flyweight bout in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. De La Rosa won by way of submission in the third round. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montana De La Rosa, left, throws a punch against Rachael Ostovich in the women's flyweight bout in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. De La Rosa won by way of submission in the third round. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Montana De La Rosa, right, connects a punch against Rachael Ostovich in the women's flyweight bout in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. De La Rosa won by way of submission in the third round. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Roxanne Modafferi connects an elbow against Barb Honchak before winning by technical knockout in the second round of the women's flyweight bout during The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Roxanne Modafferi, top, throws a punch against Barb Honchak before winning by technical knockout in the second round of the women's flyweight bout during The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Roxanne Modafferi, left, battles Barb Honchak in the second round of the women's flyweight bout during The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Modafferi won by way of technical knockout in the second round. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Allan Zuniga, left, defends a kick against John Gunther in the lightweight bout during the The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale at the Palms casino-hotel in Las Vegas, Friday, July 6, 2018. Gunther won by majority decision. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco

Undefeated middleweight Israel Adesanya took full advantage of his first UFC headlining spot by closing “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 27 Finale in style at the Palms, winning a decision over Las Vegan Brad Tavares on Friday night.

It was a star-making turn for Adesanya, a kickboxing specialist who improved to 14-0 overall in mixed martial arts and 3-0 in the UFC.

He picked apart Tavares for five full rounds with precise foot and hand strikes along with brutal knees and elbows.

“All the experts asked, ‘Is it too soon (for a top-10 opponent)? He’s only got two fights in the UFC,’ ” Adesanya said. “My first main event in only my third fight. I’m just getting started.”

Tavares had a brief glimmer of hope in the fourth round after securing a takedown, but he couldn’t lock up a choke, and Adesanya continued his assault once he got back to his feet.

It was a night of mixed results for the two other Las Vegans on the main card as Roxanne Modafferi scored a knockout victory while Julian Marquez was on the wrong side of a controversial split decision.

Modafferi avenged a 2011 defeat on the regional circuit by scoring her first UFC win as she stopped veteran Barb Honchak with a series of vicious elbows on the ground in a women’s flyweight bout.

“I have been preparing for this fight for a very long time,” she said. “I knew she was aggressive, so I wanted to challenge myself and take her down.”

Marquez was not as successful, although she landed several big shots in a back-and-forth slugfest against middleweight Alessio Di Chirico.

While Marquez won all three rounds on one scorecard, Di Chirico took the first and third on one card and the first and second on another to capture a split decision.

Two season champions for “The Ultimate Fighter” were also determined.

Brad Katona, a gym mate of Conor McGregor, won the featherweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jay Cucciniello.

The lightweight title went to Mike Trizano, who won a split decision when Joe Giannetti appeared to try to coast in the third round under the assumption he was ahead on the scorecards.

Also on the main card, veteran featherweight Alex Caceres outlasted Martin Bravo to take a split decision in a wild affair.

“I guess the fighter in me did get sucked into that brawl, but I wanted to show my range,” Caceres said.

Luis Pena, dubbed “Violent Bob Ross” for his similar look to the late television painter, highlighted the preliminary card with a first-round submission of lightweight Richie Smullen.

Montana de la Rosa and Gerald Meerschaert also won by submission.

John Gunther, Bryce Mitchell and Steven Peterson each won by decision.

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Dustin Poirier bloodied Max Holloway and won a unanimous decision for the UFC interim lightweight title on Saturday night, denying Holloway his chance to become only the fourth fighter to hold two belts at the same time.

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